A Watershed Conditions Report For the State of Kansas HUC (Independence-Sugar) Watershed

Transcription

1 A Watershed Conditions Report For the State of Kansas HUC (Independence-Sugar) Watershed Photograph Courtesy of Denis Photography Pages Kansas Department of Health & Environment Bureau of Water Watershed Management Section 1000 SW Jackson Topeka, KS 66612

2 Watershed Conditions Report For HUC (Independence-Sugar) Prepared by Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Nonpoint Source Section 6/15/01 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Watershed Conditions Report is designed to serve as a water quality atlas, and is intended to provide stakeholders in water quality with a tool to assess the condition of water resources within their watershed. Surface water quality for HUC streams and rivers is generally good with majority of the surface water bodies supporting their designated uses. The primary pollutant concern within HUC streams and rivers is ammonia. Ammonia is a chemical that is toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms. Potential sources of ammonia include livestock, septic systems, wildlife and wastewater facilities. There are several large reservoirs and many smaller lakes within HUC The primary pollutant concern for lakes within this watershed is eutrophication. Eutrophication is a natural process which creates conditions favorable for algae blooms and excess plant growth. This process is often accelerated by excess nutrient loading from the watershed. Additional pollutant concerns for lakes within the watershed include excessive biomass, low dissolved oxygen, and ph. Groundwater resources in HUC include alluvial aquifers of the Missouri River, shallow non-principal aquifers, and portions of the Glacial Drift aquifer. Water from these aquifers is generally in good condition with naturally occurring minerals and nitrate as the primary pollutant concerns. Page 2

3 PURPOSE The Watershed Conditions Report is designed to serve as a water quality atlas for a given watershed, and is intended to provide Watershed Stakeholders Committees (WSC) with a tool to assess the condition of water resources within their watershed. BACKGROUND The Clean Water Act mandates that States assess the quality of their waters and implement Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for water bodies that do not meet their designated uses. The following is a summary of steps taken by the State of Kansas to comply with these requirements of the Clean Water Act. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) prepared the Kansas Unified Watershed Assessment in This assessment classifies the State s watersheds into four categories. A Category I classification means the watershed is in need of restoration due to having water quality impairments or degradation of other natural resources related to an aquatic habitat, ecosystem health and other factors related to aquatic life resources. Category II watersheds are in need of protection. Category III are watersheds with pristine or sensitive aquatic system conditions on lands administered by federal, state, or tribal governments. Category IV watersheds are those for which there is insufficient data to make accurate classification. KDHE has assigned a restoration priority score to each Category I watershed. As mandated by section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, lakes and streams within the Category I watersheds, which do not meet water quality standards, are published biannually in the 303(d) list. Subsequently, lakes and streams which appear on the 303 (d) list are scheduled to have a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) prepared. KDHE is currently preparing TMDLs for impaired stream segments located within the highest restoration priority watersheds. To restore water quality within the Category I watersheds, KDHE recommends the implementation of a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS). The ultimate goal of the WRAPS process is to create and implement a plan to restore the health of water bodies that do not meet their water quality standards. Additionally, the WRAPS process will insure that water bodies that currently meet their water quality standards are protected. KDHE recommends that the WRAPS process be implemented on a local level by a Watershed Stakeholders Committee (WSC). The WSC would have the responsibility of working with local and state agencies to develop a WRAPS plan. This plan should identify the following: public outreach methods; required monitoring activities based on water quality goals and outcomes; specific water quality problems; watershed coordinator/evaluator; actions to be taken to achieve water quality goals and outcomes; schedule for implementation of needed restoration measures; and funding needs. Page 3

4 Streams and Rivers HUC The Huc watershed is ranked twenty-fifth in priority for watershed restoration throughout the state. According to the Unified Watershed Assessment, 1.2% of the total miles of water in this watershed do not meet their designated uses. See Attachment 1 for a map of streams and rivers in HUC Designated Uses This watershed is primarily a drainage basin for the Missouri River and its tributaries. Surface waters in this watershed are generally used for aquatic life support, food procurement, primary contact recreation and domestic water supply use. There are 35 public water supplies within the watershed, many of which draw water from the Missouri River and it s alluvium. Figure 1 Huc Surface Water Uses IWS LW IRR S 7% GR R 1% E 16% DWS FP 14% PCR 12% E=Expected Aquatic Life FP=Food Procurement PCR=Designated for contact recreational use DWS=Designated for domestic water supply use GR=Designated for ground water recharge IRR=Designated for irrigation use IWS=Designated for industrial water supply use LW=Designated for livestock use S=Special Aquatic Life Use Water R=Restricted Aquatic Life Use TMDL/Contaminate Concerns Streams and rivers throughout Kansas have been sub-divided into segments. By dividing the streams and rivers into segments they can be better analyzed and understood. A reach of river or stream may have segments which vary greatly in water quality, based on surrounding land uses. The figures below display the impairments of the streams and rivers based on the number of segments sampled. Surface waters not meeting their designated uses will require total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). Figure 2 shows 3% of the stream/river segments sampled need TMDLs. All of the impaired streams/river segments in this watershed are impaired by ammonia (NH3). Page 4

5 Figure 2 Percentage of Stream/River Segments Needing TMDLs Impaired 3% Not Impaired 97% Potential Pollution Sources Ammonia is a chemical which is toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms. Potential sources of ammonia include livestock, septic systems, wildlife, and wastewater facilities. Analyzing the land uses within this watershed helps to understand which land uses might have greater influences on the source of the impairments. Below are a list of the land uses in this watershed which can affect a stream or river segment. Grassland is considered grazingland for livestock. p Urban Area...6.6% p Wooded area...12% p Row Crop...43% p Water area...2.2% p Grassland %% p Other...2% Feedlots: In Kansas, confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) with greater than 300 animal units must register with KDHE. There are approximately 17 registered CAFOs located within HUC (this number, which is based on best available information, may be dated and subject to change). Waste disposal practices and waste water effluent quality are closely monitored by KDHE for these registered CAFOs to determine the need for runoff control practices or structure. Because of this monitoring, registered CAFOs are not considered a significant threat to water resources within the watershed. A portion of the State s livestock population exists on small unregistered farms. These small unregistered livestock operations may contribute a significant source of fecal coliform bacteria and nutrients, and ammonia depending on the presence and condition of waste management systems and proximity to water resources. Wastewater Treatment Facilities: There are approximately 8 municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities within the watershed (this number may be dated and subject to change). These facilities are currently regulated by KDHE under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. These permits specify the maximum amount of pollutants allowed to be discharged to the waters of the State. Due to the chlorination processes involved in municipal waste treatment, these facilities are not considered to be a significant source of fecal coliform bacteria; however they may be a significant source of nutrients. Page 5

6 Septic Systems: There are currently thousands of septic systems within the watershed and this number is increasing. When properly designed, installed, and maintained, septic systems can act as an effective means of wastewater treatment. However, poorly maintained or failing septic systems can leach pollutants into nearby surface waters and groundwater. The exact number of failing septic systems within the watershed is unknown; however the number may be increasing due to the current trends in suburban development. Local Environmental Protection Programs and County health departments may provide excellent sources of information regarding the proper design, installation, and maintenance for septic systems. Wildlife: Wildlife located throughout the watershed are not usually considered a significant source of nonpoint source pollutants. However, during seasonal migrations, concentrations of waterfowl can add significant amounts of fecal coliform bacteria and nutrients into surface water resources. Row Crop Agriculture: As stated above, approximately 43% of the watershed s land is used for row crop agriculture. Row crop agriculture can be a significant source of nonpoint source pollution. Common pollutants from row crop agriculture include sediment, nutrients, pesticides, and fecal coliform bacteria. Many producers within the watershed regularly implement and maintain BMPs to limit the amount of nonpoint source pollutants leaving their farm. Some common BMPs include: the use of contour plowing; use of cover crops; maintaining buffer strips along field edges; and proper timing of fertilizer application. Urban/Suburban Runoff: Many urban landscapes are covered by paved surfaces including roads, driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks. These surfaces are impermeable and tend to divert water into storm drains at high velocities. This increased flow velocity from urban areas can cause severe stream bank erosion in receiving water bodies. Additionally, urban and suburban runoff may carry other pollutants like petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Currently, the watershed is only about 1% urban. Limiting paved surfaces is the key to slowing urban nonpoint source pollution. The use of grass swales, open spaces, and storm water retention ponds are recommended to slow runoff in urban areas. The watershed has an increasing population living in suburban areas. Residential landscapes are often designed with large turf areas which require high amounts of water and chemicals to maintain. The use of excessive amounts of fertilizers and lawn care chemicals in residential areas can contribute a significant amount of pollution to nearby water resources. Suburban nonpoint source pollution can be limited by: using less lawn fertilizers and chemicals; control of construction sites; proper disposal of pet waste; establishing large areas of native vegetation; and conserving the amount of water use for plant maintenance. Lakes & Wetlands Huc is the home to Atchison County Lake, Wyandotte County Lake, Smith Lake and several smaller city and county lakes. Atchison County Lake and Wyandotte County Lake are designated as state fishing lakes in Kansas. They are also used for recreational purposes as well as a public water supply source for many local communities. Some of the smaller lakes in the watershed include Lansing City Lake, Big Eleven Lake and Jerry s Lake. See Attachment 2 for a map of lakes in HUC Designated Uses According to the Surface Water Register, the majority of the lakes and wetlands in this watershed are designated for expected aquatic life use, primary contact recreation, domestic water supply, industrial water supply, and recreational purposes. (Figure 3) Page 6

7 Figure 3 Lake Uses in Huc LW IWS DW CR 3% E 28% E=Expected Aquatic Life Use FP=Food Procurement IRR=Designated for irrigation use IWS=Designated for industrial water supply use LW=Designated for livestock watering use DW=Designated for domestic water supply use CR=Designated for contact recreational use IRR FP 29% TMDL/Contaminate Concerns Surface waters not meeting their designated uses will require total maximum daily loads (TMDL)s. Approximately 44% of this watershed s lakes/wetlands sampled need TMDLs (Figure 4). Primary pollutants for this watershed s lakes and wetlands are eutrophication (E), excessive biomass (AP), low dissolved oxygen (DO), and ph. As shown below in Figure 5, approximately 50% of the impaired lakes/wetlands in this watershed are eutrophic, 25% have excessive biomass, 12.5% have low dissolved oxygen levels, and 12.5% have either high or low ph. Figure 4 Figure 5 Percentage of Lakes/Wetlands Needing TMDLs ph DO TMDL Distribution Not Impaired 56% Impaired 44% AP E Percentage of Impaired Lakes Page 7

8 Eutrophication is caused by excess nutrient loading from a variety of nitrogen and phosphorus sources. Excessive biomass may be caused due to large amounts of nutrient loading from wastewater treatment plants, row crop agriculture, livestock, fertilizer, septic systems and wildlife. Excessive biomass of submerged vascular plants may be sufficient enough to interfere with designated water uses. Low DO levels typically coincide with an abundance of algae. This causes the population of decomposers to increase, which in turn use up the oxygen in the stream or river. ph determines the alkalinity or acidity of water in the lake. If the water is too basic or too acidic it can potentially stress or kill the aquatic life and vegetation. Potential Pollution Sources Based on the watershed s land use percentages, the primary pollutant sources for nutrients causing eutrophication may be row crop agriculture, livestock, feedlots, and septic systems. Groundwater Major groundwater aquifers underlying this watershed include portions of the Glacial Drift aquifer and alluvial aquifers of the Missouri River and its tributaries. See attachment 4 for a map of groundwater aquifers. Designated Uses There are approximately 411 groundwater wells located within the watershed. Water from these wells is used for groundwater monitoring, domestic use, industrial use, artificial recharge, and several other uses as shown below. Groundwater Uses Feedlot Lawn and Garden Public Water Supply Irrigation Dewatering Artificial Recharge Industrial Domestic Monitoring Well Number of Wells Page 8

9 Aquifer Characteristics Glacial Drift Aquifer: The Glacial Drift aquifer underlies a significant portion of this watershed. Water from this aquifer is used for rural, domestic and public water supply. Historically water from this aquifer is very hard with nitrates being one of the primary pollutant concerns. Alluvial Aquifer: Alluvial aquifers of the Missouri River and it s tributaries exist throughout the watershed. Alluvial aquifers provide the primary water source for many public water supplies located with in the watershed. Water quality in alluvial aquifers is generally good; however nitrates, minerals, pesticides and bacteria can be pollutant concerns. Potential Pollution Types and Sources Common groundwater pollutants include: nitrates, chloride, sulfates, bacteria and atrazine. Nitrate impaired groundwater is perhaps the most prevalent groundwater contamination problem in the State. Nitrate: Nitrate is a naturally occurring compound and is an essential component of all living matter. However, high concentrations of nitrate in drinking water can cause adverse health effects including blue baby syndrome. Sources of nitrate include municipal waste water treatment plant discharges, runoff from livestock operations, leaching of fertilizer from urban and agricultural areas, and failing septic systems. Chloride: Chloride is a naturally occurring mineral found in Kansas lakes, streams, and groundwater. In high concentrations, chloride can cause deterioration of domestic plumbing, water heaters, and municipal water works. The primary source of chloride impacted groundwater is intrusion of salt water from deeper formations, often due to improperly constructed water wells which allow confined aquifers to come into contact with each other. Sulfates: Sulfate is a naturally occurring mineral that can cause taste and odor problems in drinking water. Sulfates are dissolved into groundwater as the water moves through various sulfur containing rock formations. Bacteria: Fecal coliform bacteria are found in the digestive systems of warm blooded animals. In the environment coliform bacteria is an indicator of potential disease causing organisms. Potential sources of bacteria contamination in groundwater include livestock facilities, septic systems, pets, and wildlife. Many wells are impacted by bacteria due to improper construction which allows water from the surface to funnel directly into the well. Ammonia: Ammonia is a chemical which is toxic to fish and aquatic organisms. Sources of ammonia are livestock, septic tanks, fertilizer, municipal and industrial waste. TSS: TSS stands for Total Suspended Solids which are particles such as soil, algae, and finely divided plant material suspended in water. Sources of TSS are soil erosion from cropland, stream banks, or construction sites, and municipal and industrial waste. Page 9

10 VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds, also called purgeable organics, are components of fuels and solvents. They are ingredients in many household and industrial products. Sources of VOCs are leaking fuel storage tanks, trash dumps, and some agricultural pesticides. Iron: Iron is a naturally occurring element found in the soil throughout Kansas. It is an annoyance as it has an objectionable taste, causes a red stain to porcelain fixtures and laundry, and causes plumbing irritations. Manganese: Manganese is a naturally occurring element and causes an unpleasant taste in drinking water, stains porcelain and laundry, and collects deposits in plumbing. It is naturally occurring throughout the soils in the state. Page 10

11 Attachment 1 Maps Page 11

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